Denver Officer Fired Over Unauthorized Ammunition Use

DENVER (AP) - A Denver police officer who used unauthorized, military ammunition in a shooting that left a bystander wounded has been terminated.

The Denver Post reported Wednesday that Manger of Safety Charles Garcia issued a termination order for Officer Robert Fitzgibbons on June 14.

An investigation following the shooting last July found that Fitzgibbons had military "tracer" bullets in his .223-caliber Smith & Wesson rifle when he fired at an armed suspect. The investigation found police were justified in their use of force.

According to Garcia, Fitzgibbons was fired for violating departmental rules and mayoral executive orders regarding firearms and other conduct.

Police union president Nick Rogers says Fitzgibbons will appeal his termination. Nine Denver police officers have been fired since March.

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